Water elevator



July 19, 1932. A. PARKER 1,368,219

WATER ELEVATOR Filed Sept. 12. 1930 1*; 2a 35 34' BY g 379.5 ar y/ 12: 7

Patented July 19, 1932 journal) STATES PATENT: OFFICE ALEXANDER rAnKEn o r ETNA, CALIFORNIA WATER nLnvA'roR Application filed September 12, 1930. Serial No 481,410. i

The invention relates to an elevator for lifting a fluid to a higher level, as water from a stream to a ditch or flume elevated thereabove. 7

5 A general object of the invention isto provide an improved and simplified elevator wherein the load-carrying elements comprise partition members upwardly movable as piswhich'permits the passage of'the conveyor around sprocket wheels or the like, said means applicable to continuous flexible conveyors generally.

Yet another object'istoprovide a'water elevator of the class described which is particularly adapted for use in'inclined lift pas sages. 1

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, someof which, with the foregoing, will be set forth or be apparent in the following description of a typical embodiment of the invention. and in the accompanying drawing, in which, V

Figure 1 is a partly sectional side elevation of an elevator embodying the invention and operably disposed. I v

Figure 2 is a sectional view at 2'-2 in Figure 1. j

' Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view at 3-3 in Figure 1. i Figure 4is an enlarged'fra'gmentary view atHinFigurel. a i

Figure 5 is a section at 55;in Figure 3. .1 As particularly illustrated, the novel features of the present invention are incorporat ed inthe structure of an elevator unit wherein wall members 6, 7, 8 and 9 cooperateto,

define a lift passage 11 of uniform cross.- section. As shown in Figurel, said unit is disposed to dispose the passage 11 in angular relation to the vertical, this disposal of the unit being that in which-the same'is utilized whereby the conveyor 17 is arranged to be in efi'ectingthe delivery of water from a stream 12 over a dyke .or bank 13 bounding the same. Shafts 1A and 15 are journalled at opposite ends of the structure and mount rotary members 16 which cooperatively carry a continuousflexible conveyor 17 having a portion thereof longitudinally traversing the passage "11;" Load-supporting piston members 18 are carried by the conveyor 17 for partitioning engagement in the passage 11 whereby they are arranged to raise water thereabove for discharge at the upper pas sage end, a discharge spout '19 beingprovided for effecting a directed delivery of the elevated water. I y

The conveyor-17, it'will now be noted, coinprises a pair 'of laterally spaced sprocket chains 21 of like length, and the members 16 are sprocket wheels for engaging the chains,

wheels of like size being provided on each 70:

the links 23 overlap the links25. A sprocket wheel 27 is mounted on the upper shaft 14 operated by power derived from asuitable source (not shown). A i r Laterally opposite elements 22 ofthe two conveyor chains jointly carry the pistonelements 1'8. As particularly shown, block 85 members29'are mounted on the said chain elements 22 to extend longitudinally thereof, andthe pistons 18 are fixedto the leading ends of said blocks to extend transversely of the chain elements which carry them. The mounting of the blocks 29 is effected by fixing them to the links 23 of said elements22, said links being formed with integral lateral extensions whereby to receive the blocks between the latter. The blocks 29 are mounted to extend solely from that chain side which lies radially outwardly of the sprocket wheels 16 as the chain moves therearound.

The chains '21 extend along the passage Wall 8 in close adjacency thereto whereby the pistons 18 extend transversely from t-he said wall and as partitions in said passage. As shown, these piston partitions comprise plates provided with anti-friction rollers 31 at the edges thereof which oppose the passage walls 6, 7 and 9, the plate being shaped to provide for a maximum degree of partitioning of the passage 11. H

Since the weight of water being elevated by and above a piston 18 will tend to deflect said piston out of its transversely partition I ing relation to the passage 11, means are provicled for bracing such partition again'st deflection during its .operativeness. As particularly shown, such meanscomprises theprovision of brace blocks 32 mounted on the chain elements 22 which immediately, succeed the piston, said blocks cooperating with the blocks'29 to provide brackets behind the piston which are effectively triangular, the various blocks. being appropriately shaped.

In the present instance, two blocks 32 are provided'for bracing operation .at each chain,-

and'sa'idblocksare mounted on the elements '22 which carry'them in the same manner as are theblocks v29. In this manner, an appreciabl'e length of conveyor chain is utilized as partof abracket support'for the piston, said ehain length including a plurality of the pivotally related chain elements 22 and'24. 7

It is obvious that the reaction to the oper ation of the described sectional brace or bracket urges the chain portions thereat toward the passage wall 8:, and meansareprovided to support the chain from said wall for movement therealong. Accordingly, and as shown, like members 33 are mounted on'and between the oppositechain elements 22 which carry :the brace blocks 29 and 32', said members carrying rollers 34: forsen'gagem'ent with; the'passage wall. 8 whereby to slightly space.

the chains from said wall. In the present instance, the members 33 are provided with transverse end flanges 35 whereby they are arranged to'be'fixed to the elements22'by use of the c'hainpins 26, the latter being of the necessary excess length for the purpose.

The now-described structure of-the piston v bracing'means is seen top'rovide for a. passing of the chains around the sprockets by permitting an angular separation of the various "brace block sections, this feature being brought. out in the showing of Figure 1 6 :wall or a side wall. Furthermore, .it is clear that. the disclosedbracing means is advantageously applicable t-o loadcarrying elevments ofconveyor chains generally. 7 'It is noted that in the present instance, the

shafts 14 and 15 are journalled in lateral eX- tensions 36 ofthe passage wall members 7 and 9 at opposite ends of said members. Track members37 are mounted on and along the .ou'terside cram wall member 8 forsupporte ing engagement withthe rollers 34: of thepiston assemblies whereby the chains 21 may be --supported ibetweenthe sprocket wheels 16 Y and externally of the lift passage. In this :manner,-the structure shown comprises a selfcontained elevator unit for installation where'desired. Inpractice, the conveyor assemblywould be driven ;at a speed to 1ninimize the escape of water by thepistons, they need for the equivalent of piston rings thusv being avoided; l i

From the foregoing description, takenfin connection with the accompanying drawing,

the advantages of the construction and meth: 0d of use will bereadily understood by thosev skilled in the art to which the invention appertains. While I h aveno'w described the principle of operation, together with the de- 7 vice which I now consider to be a preferred embodiment thereof, it is understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and "that such changes may 'be made when desired as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I-

claimas new and desire to secure' byLetters Patent of the United States, the followingi 1; In an elevator, means providing a lift passage of uniform cro'ss-sectioma continuous chain conveyor longitudinally traversing said passageadjacent a passage wall, a lift element carried by a link structure'of said conveyor and transversely partitioning said passage for raising material thereabove therewith, and brace members directly car ried by succeeding said link structures and.

cooperatively coactive between said lift ele-' nient and said passage wall to support said lift element in fixedangular relation to said wall while the said lift element operates 7 said passage,- 7 p 2. Inan elevator for liquids, means pro: vidinga laterally closed lift passage of uniform cross-section, a continuous chain conveyor longitudinallytraversing said passage adjacent a passage wall, sprocket wheels car-; rying said chain conveyor,a liftelement carried by said conveyor and transversely par titioning said passage for raising material thereabove therewith, and brace members carried by succeeding said conveyor elements and cooperatively coa ctive. between said lift element and said passage wall to supportsaid lift element in fixed angular relation to said wall while the said liftelement operates in said passage, successive said brace members arranged for an angular separation thereof while the conveyor elements thereat engage a sprocket wheel.

3. In an elevator for liquids, a structure providing a laterally closed and steeply inclined lift passage of uniform cross-section, a continuous and flexible conveyor chain longitudinally traversing said passage adjacent the upper passage wall, sprocket wheels carrying said chain, a lift element carried by said chain and transversely partitioning said passage for raising liquid thereabove therewith, anti-friction means of the lift element operative between the different edges thereof and the passage walls, and a sectional bracket carried by said chain and operative behind said lift element during a working traverse thereof through said passage, different sec-.

tions of said bracket fixedly related to different chain links and angularly separable when the chain is flexed between the said links for passing around a said sprocket wheel.

4. In an elevator, a chain conveyor, aloadcarrying element extending transversely from said conveyor and carried by a chain link, and brace block members directly carried by said link and succeeding links of the chain, said b-locks cooperative when said links are aligned to provide abracket support for said element with respect to the chain and arranged to be'angularly separated when said links are angularly related.

5. In an elevator, a continuous chain conveyor, a lift element carried by an element of said conveyor, and brace members carried by succeeding conveyor elements including said first conveyor element and cooperatively coactive between said lift element and the said conveyor elements to support said lift element in fixed angular relation to the line of said conveyor elements when the same are mutually aligned.

6. In a conveyor, a chain for one-way'movement longitudinally thereof, a load-moving element carried by a link of the chain to extend transversely from the chain, and brace members carried by succeeding chain links and cooperatively coactive between said element and the various said links when the latter are mutually aligned to brace the element from behind and in fixed angular relation to the line of said links.

7 In a conveyor, a chain, means providing a fixed bearing surface adjacent and parallel: ing a working portion of said chain, aloadmoving element carried by a link of the chain to extend transversely from the chain, and brace means directly carried by succeeding links including said first link and cooperatively coactive between said element and said bearing surface to brace the element from behind while the said links are .mutually aligned. V

8. In a conveyor, laterally spaced chains for simultaneous and like movements longitudinally thereof and having corresponding portions thereof mutually coplanar, a 103d? a fixed and planar bearing surface, laterally spaced chains for simultaneous and like movements opposite said surface, a load-move ing element carried by and between opposite links of the chains to extend transversely from the chains thereat, brace members carried by succeeding and corresponding links of each chain and cooperatively coactivebetween said element and the links which'carry them to brace the'element from behind and with respect to said links, tie members con,-v necting corresponding said links of the different chains, and bearing means on said tie members for engagement with said bearing surface whereby said chains are held spaced from said surface. 7

10. In an elevator of the class described, a continuous chain conveyor, a series of brace blocks directly carried by a succession of the chain links, and a lift element fixed on the forward'said brace block, said brace blocks cooperatively coactive between said lift element and the said chain links to support said lift element in fixed angular relation to the line of said conveyor elements when the same are mutually aligned.

11. In an elevator, means providing a fixed bearing surface, laterally spaced chains for simultaneous and like movements longitudinally/thereof and'having corresponding pore tions thereof mutually coplanar, a set of brace members directly carried by succeeding and corresponding links of each chain, a lift element fixed toand between the leading brace members of saidsets thereof to extend transversely from the chains thereat, tie members connecting corresponding said links of the different chains and arranged for bearing engagement with said bearing surface, said tie .members and brace members cooperative 

